Today at the L.A. Auto Show, BMW made its official announcement that it will be bringing diesel engines back to the U.S. for its 3 Series sedan and wagon and the 5 Series sedan.
Details up until now have been sketchy at best, as Automobile Magazine reported in the summer that such engines would be making their way back across the pond. Now, however, we have more insight.
Starting next year, BMW will be bringing the 3 Series sedan and wagon to the U.S. with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine that will produce 184 horsepower. For the BMW 5 Series, the automaker will be rolling out a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6, likely the same one that is currently found in the X5 crossover. A popular option, the diesel engine accounts for more than a quarter of all current X5 sales in the U.S.
Previously, BMW sold a diesel engine option in the 3 Series from 2009 to 2011, boasting 265 horsepower and a stump-pulling 425 pound-feet of torque–that force that gets you moving. While a popular option among enthusiasts, its fuel economy proved less than impressive, and its sales were not great among the overall mix of 3 Series. Now with the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 Series taking up the flagship role as a high-performance fuel-saver, it opens up room in the middle of the range for the small-displacement diesel engine that has been sold abroad in the BMW 320d model.
As for the 5 Series, it will mark the first time BMW has sold a diesel engine in its midsizer luxury sedan in the U.S., likely to be badged as a 535d or 540d when it makes its grand entrance during the first half of 2013.
Sources: BMW, Automobile Magazine via Motor Trend
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